How to migrate Azure SQL database from tenant to tenant

Question

How to migrate Azure SQL database from tenant to tenant

Kum Wing Kit 5

I have an Azure SQL database that is has 1 TB approximately and i am planning to migrate it to another tenant with minimum time, how am i able to do so? i have no access to change the billing ownership and the DMS is not working for migrating Azure SQL. i know that export import will do the work but i took me hours to do so and i am seeking for a better solution

SIVASANKAR YEDDULA 150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-24T10:27:58.4933333+00:00
Hi @Kum Wing Kit ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

For a 1 TB Azure SQL Database, BACPAC export/import is generally not recommended due to the time required to export and import large volumes of data.

For a cross-tenant migration, the recommended approach is to use T-SQL Database Copy (CREATE DATABASE … AS COPY OF), which creates a transactionally consistent copy of the source database and is typically much faster than a BACPAC-based migration.

To use this method:

Configure firewall rules and connectivity between the source and destination logical servers.

Use SQL Authentication, as cross-tenant database copy is supported through SQL logins.

Create the required login on the destination server using the same SID as the source login.

Connect to the destination server's master database and run:

CREATE DATABASE TargetDB

AS COPY OF SourceServer.SourceDB;

Monitor the operation using:

SELECT *

FROM sys.dm_operation_status;

Once the copy is complete, validate the database, users, permissions, and application connectivity before performing the final cutover.

For detailed guidance, please refer to the Microsoft article: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/azuredbsupport/how-to-copy-azure-sql-database-to-a-different-subscription-and-different-tenant/3965985

I hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any further questions.

If this answer helps, please consider clicking Accept Answer so that other community members facing similar issues can benefit from it as well. If you have any further questions, please let us know. We will be happy to assist.

1 answer

Your answer

SIVASANKAR YEDDULA 150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-24T10:27:58.4933333+00:00

Hi @Kum Wing Kit ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

For a 1 TB Azure SQL Database, BACPAC export/import is generally not recommended due to the time required to export and import large volumes of data.

For a cross-tenant migration, the recommended approach is to use T-SQL Database Copy (CREATE DATABASE … AS COPY OF), which creates a transactionally consistent copy of the source database and is typically much faster than a BACPAC-based migration.

To use this method:

Configure firewall rules and connectivity between the source and destination logical servers.

Use SQL Authentication, as cross-tenant database copy is supported through SQL logins.

Create the required login on the destination server using the same SID as the source login.

Connect to the destination server's master database and run:

CREATE DATABASE TargetDB

AS COPY OF SourceServer.SourceDB;

Monitor the operation using:

SELECT *

FROM sys.dm_operation_status;

Once the copy is complete, validate the database, users, permissions, and application connectivity before performing the final cutover.

For detailed guidance, please refer to the Microsoft article: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/azuredbsupport/how-to-copy-azure-sql-database-to-a-different-subscription-and-different-tenant/3965985

I hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any further questions.

If this answer helps, please consider clicking Accept Answer so that other community members facing similar issues can benefit from it as well. If you have any further questions, please let us know. We will be happy to assist.

Answer 1

Marcin Policht 105.8K MVP Volunteer Moderator

Refer to https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/azuredbsupport/how-to-copy-azure-sql-database-to-a-different-subscription-and-different-tenant/3965985

The article describes three approaches. The first is CREATE DATABASE ... AS COPY OF, which is particularly attractive for a large database because it avoids the lengthy BACPAC export/import process - configure connectivity to both servers, create a SQL login/user on the source with the required permissions, capture its SID, create the same login on the destination using that SID, and then execute CREATE DATABASE destination AS COPY OF sourceServer.sourceDatabase from the destination server. Azure performs the copy and you can monitor its progress through sys.dm_operation_status. The second option is active geo-replication, which involves creating a geo-secondary in another subscription and tenant and is might be the preferred choice when minimizing downtime is more important than simply making a copy, because changes can continue replicating until you are ready to cut over. However, cross-tenant geo-replication has limitations - particularly around Microsoft Entra-only authentication and private endpoints. The third option is SqlPackage BACPAC export/import, which works but is generally slower for a 1 TB database. To speed it up, you can try running SqlPackage from an Azure VM with SSD storage, accelerated networking, sufficient disk space, and preferably in the same region as the database.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Kum Wing Kit 5 Reputation points

2026-08-24T14:28:39.42+00:00

Hi Marcin, Thank you for the information. may i know using the first method does it support incremental copy?
Marcin Policht 105.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-24T15:18:12.12+00:00

Unfortunately not. This creates a new database by copying the source database at that point in time. Azure handles the underlying copy process, so you don't have to export/import a BACPAC, but changes made to the source after the copy starts are not replicated to the destination as an ongoing change stream.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin
SIVASANKAR YEDDULA 150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-24T17:41:18.0166667+00:00
Hi @Kum Wing Kit ,

Thank you for your question.

The first method, CREATE DATABASE … AS COPY OF, does not support incremental or continuous data synchronization.

This operation creates a transactionally consistent copy of the source database at the time the copy begins. During the copy process, Azure SQL Database ensures consistency by including transactions committed while the copy is being created. However, once the target database becomes available, it operates as an independent database and no further changes from the source database are synchronized automatically.

In summary:

Creates a full, transactionally consistent database copy.

Suitable for one-time migration or database cloning scenarios.

Generally faster and more efficient than BACPAC export/import for large databases.

Does not support incremental replication.

Does not continuously synchronize changes after the copy completes.

If your objective is to minimize downtime and keep the target database synchronized until cutover, you may want to evaluate replication-based options such as Active Geo-Replication or other synchronization mechanisms that maintain an up-to-date secondary copy until the migration is finalized.

For a one-time cross-tenant migration of a 1 TB database, CREATE DATABASE AS COPY OF remains a strong option. However, if near-zero downtime is a requirement, a replication-based approach would be more appropriate.

I hope this clarifies the behavior. Please let us know if minimizing downtime is your primary requirement, and we can discuss the most suitable migration strategy.

If this answer helps, please consider clicking Accept Answer so that other community members facing similar issues can benefit from it as well. If you have any further questions, please let us know. We will be happy to assist.
SIVASANKAR YEDDULA 150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-25T17:22:08.1533333+00:00

Hi @Kum Wing Kit ,

I hope the information provided has been helpful. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please let us know in the comments, and we will be glad to help. If this answer helps, please consider clicking Accept Answer so that other community members with similar questions can benefit as well.
SIVASANKAR YEDDULA 150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-27T16:46:13.1166667+00:00

Hi @Kum Wing Kit ,

I hope the information provided has been helpful. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please let us know in the comments, and we will be glad to help. If this answer helps, please consider clicking Accept Answer so that other community members with similar questions can benefit as well.